Fire escape



w. NEUSUS FIRE ESCAPE" May 24, 1932.

Filed July 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTCR (4127/10/11 News;

BY amymb HRS ATTORNEY.

y 1932- w. NEUSUS 1,860,294

FIBE ESCAPE Filed July 50, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Quintem,

E as 27 INVENTOR HAS ATTORNEY,

Ill

Patented May 24, 1932 UNirsn Tn-E 'WILILIAM iv n'nstis, 0F YORKVITJLE, ILLINOIS i FIRE ESCAPE Application filed m 30,

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in fire escapes and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of thischaracter which will be efiicient and positive in use and economical in manufacture. i

It is among the objects of my invention to providea device which. may be secured to the side of a building or the like adjacent openings thereinto, such as for example windows, so as to provide an escape during a fire. or the like; v

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will normally be disposed in an inoperative position. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will be arranged so that it may be very quickly moved into an operative position. I

A further object of the invention is-to pro vide a device of the above described character which will be so constructed that when inoperative access theretomay only be attained by an authorized person or from the interior of the building with which it is associated. y

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will befso arranged that it will not be possible to use the same to attain access into the building with which it is associated when the device isarranged in inoperative position. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device with which a portionmay be associated so that" an enclosed structure may be provided.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be here-. inafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

showing the preferred form of and in which:

. Fig. 1 is an elevational-view construction depicting a preferred form of construction of my in vention associated with a building;

Fig. 2 is a v1ew looking'inthe samedirec bodiment tion as l-depicting the preferred emv of my invention. in partially open position Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 on 2-;

Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken substantially on the line lr-kon Fig. 2;

YFig. 5 is a detail view of a hinge construction employed in the device; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 on Fig. 5; 7 Fig. 7 's a sectional View taken substantially on the line 7-7 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 8. is. av sectional View. taken substantially on the line 88 on Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view depicting a portion of the device asillustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view depicting the a modified. form of construction for the devlce;

latching arrangement employed'in my device; and I Fig- 12 is a typical wiring diagram of alarm arrangement employed in the device.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated the'preferred form of construction for my invention 10 generically indicates the wall of a building which has openings therein such .as the windows ll and 12. The windows 11 and 12 are vertically aligned andare intended to co-operate with the different floors of the building of Which the wall 10- provides a part. While in the drawings I have depicted the device as being associated with a two floored. building it is to be understood that the device might be associated with a building of any desired I number of floors and this would still bewithin the spirit andscope of my invention.

Arranged to extend parallel to the wall 10 is a wall 13 of the container generically indicatedby 14, The side of the container 14 opposite the wall 13 is preferably open and is closed by 'a cover memberf15. On the sidewall 16 of thecontainer '14 I mount one of the leavesof hinge constructions generically indicated by17. The other of theleaves of' mounted. so as to be movable to and'from closing position with respect to the open side of the container 14.. Secured to the wall 1( are the portions 18 of hinge constructions generically indicated by 19, the other per tions 20 of the hinge constructions 19 being secured to the side wall21 of the container 14, which sidewall 21 is arranged opposite the side wall '16. "A pintle 22- interconnects the portions 18 and 20 of the hinge. construetions 19 and it is,'therefore, manifest that the container 14 i's'hingedly mounted sothat the wall 13 may either be;disposed parallel to the wall 10 as illustrated'iin full lines'in Fig. 4 or so thatthe wall-13 maybe moved into the dottedlinea -positionof'Fig." 4, in

whichiposition said wall is substantially at right angles withthe wall 10. Depending hinge structure'19 is a lug 23 which normally rests on the upper surface of the *portion "18 and in the upper: surface of the portion '18 I provide a recess 24. When the wall 13. is arranged parallel to the wall 10 as illustrated in. full lines "in F i-g."4 the lower surface of the lug 23'rests' on'the up- 'per surface ofthe portion 18. However,

when the container 14'is moved into the "dottedline position of Fig. 4 so that the wall 14 is substantially at right angles to the wall '10 the lug 23' is positioned so that it may enter into the recess 24 and in this manner the container 14 is held in the dotted line 'position of Fig. 4.- In the present'instance' I have provided twofhinge structures such as 19 but it is to be understood that: any greater number might be provided dependent upon the requirements and this will "of which is secured to the pintle 28.

V invention.

still'be'within the spirit and scope of Substantially midway between the hinges I '19 I providea member 25 whichis secured to the wall 10. Brackets26 and 2.7 are secured to the wall 21 and extend outwardly over the member 25, which member 25 is substantially UJ- shaped. Between the limb portions of the U shaped member 25a pintle 28 is secured which is secured to the brackets 26 and 27.

Disposed around the pintle 28 in themember 25 is a coilspring 29, one end of which is secured to the member 25 and the other end The coil spring 29 acts on the pintle 28 and the brackets 26 and 27 and, therefore, the

container 14'to normallyurge the container from the full line position in Fig. 4 into the dotted lineposition of this view. A'similar arrangement generically indicated by 30- is arranged intermediate the hingestructure 17 and the spring'in the'structu'ref30 normally acts on the cover 15 to tend to move the cover "15 from'closingposition with respect to the open side of the container 14 into the posi-' tion'in which it is depicted in Fig; 4, asuitable arrangement being provided for limitfrom the lower side of theportion 20 of the ing the movement of the cover 15 so as to retain the same in the position depicted in Fig. 4 and this arrangement may be similar to that depicted in Figs. 5 and ,6 for the hinge structures 19. I V

In order to retain the cover member 15 and the container 14 against'the actions of the springs acting thereonl provide the following r latching arrangement. Extended through the wall 10 in juxtaposition to the windows 11 and 12 are shafts '31 and 32.

Either interiorly of the wall 10 or exteriorly thereof, as disclosed in FigQ3, the shafts 3 1 and 32 are interconnected, this being carried outin the-present instance by extending a vided on the cover 15. On the inner end of the shaft 31"I provide. a retaininglug 35.

hen the cover member 15 is in closing posi- "tion the lug 35 is disposed behind the foot portion on the lug 34 and normally holds the cover member 15in closing position. In the t slot 36 through which the shaft 31 is extended. The slot 36 is horizontally disposed and "rear wall 13 of the container-14 'Iprovide a i extended therefrom at right angles. thereto and communicating therewith is an opening '37. On the shaft 31 adj acen't the wall 13 is a retaining. lug' 38', which retaining lug-is and this Will permit the spring in the structure 30tomove the cover 15 into the position depicted in Fig. 4. By reason of the fact that I the lug '38 is disposed behind the lug 35 the container 14=will not be released until either the shaft '31 or 32 has'been further rotated so as tobring the lug 38-intoalignment with'the opening 37. As soon as the lug 38 moves into alignment with the opening 37;"

the spring'28willpivot the container 14 by reason of the fact that thelug 38 is smaller,

than the. opening 37 and will, therefore, no

longer bear. on the wall 13 soas to hold the container 14 against the action of the spring 28 on the container 14 andthe lug 23 ismoved into the recess 24 and, therefore, the container '14 will be stoppedin the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4; e i

On the inner surface of each of the walls 1 6 and 21 I provide a plurality of studs The studs on the wall 16 are indicated by 39 while the studs on the wall 21are indicated by 40. Pivotally mounted? on the studs 39 are the dogs 41; and pivotallymounted on the studs40 are i thedogs 42. 'Ihestuds 39and '40 are arranged I in transverse alignment with each; other. "Therefore, rods 43 may be extended between so chain 33 between sprockets onthese shafts. As best illustrated in Fig. 11 alug 34'is pro pivotally attached to each of the dogs 41 as indicated at 46 and, therefore, the structures mounted on the-studs 39 and 40 move as a unit and in this manner a ladder like arrangement'is provided. When the cover 1s in closing position it bears against the structures mounted onthe studs 39 and and retains them. interiorly of the .container 14. How-v ever, when the cover 15 moves to open posi-.

tion the structures mounted on these studs pivot forwardly so as to provide the ladder like arrangement set forth. g

In use the device is mounted on the side ofa building so that the container 14 will be juxtaposed the windows 11 and 12 as clearly illus-.

lustrated in Fig. 1. In the event of a fire or other emergencies either the shaft 31 or 32 is rotated in the manner set forth so as to first release the cover 15 which releases the structures mounted on the studs 39 and 40, and then further rotation of either of the shafts 31 or 32 will position the container 14 in the dotted line position of Fig. 4. In this position access to the structures mounted on the studs 39 and 40 may be attained throughv either of the windows 11 or 12 and, therefore, the device may be used as a fire escape or the like. i

It is manifest that the cover 15 will afford a protection about the ladder like arrangement in combination with the wall 10. However, under certain conditions it maybe desirable to provide an arrangement so that the ladder like arrangement will be substantially enclosed and this can be accomplished by providing the following arrangement.

The cover 15 will preferably be arranged so that it embodies flanges around the edges thereof. A frame generically indicated by 4? would be provided and the area enclosed by this frame would be'covered with a suite able fire proof material, as for example asbestos impregnated wire, this latter being used so as to afford greater rigidity. The frame 47 would be hinged as indicated at 48 so as to normally be disposed interiorlyof the cover 15 and would be moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 9 when needed If desired a switch structure generically indicated by 49 can be mounted on the wall 16, which switch structure would include an operating arm 50 (Figs. 3 and 4) that would normally bear against the. cover when the cover was in closed position and when the cover would be moved into the open position illustrated this switch 49 would operate to close an electric circuit to a suitable alarm urging said housing into a predetermined device 51. This arrangement could advan I tageously be employed in connection with structures extending to morethan two floors where it would be extremely desirable to provide an alarm when the devicewas oper- 370 ateda r It is manifest that since the device can be operated only from the interior of the building with which it is associated that the'device will not be accessible-for use to make unauthorized entrances into the bu lding although, if desired, an arrangement mlght be provided which would, require a secret knowledge for the operation thereof which would permit the operation of the device from the exterior of the building. Itis apparent that the device might'be very effectivelymanufactured and installed and will,

therefore, very efiiciently accomplish the re- A sult int-ended.

l Vhi-le I 'haveillustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying 1 my invention into eife'c-t,'this is capable of variation'and modification, without depart- M ing fromthe spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scopeof-the appended claims. r

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: p

1. Incombination with a building, a hous ing, a cover member hingedly connected to said housing, means for normally urging said cover member into open position with respectv to-said housing, means for hlngedly co'rin'ecting said housing to said building, means for A position relative to said building, means for resistingthe action of said last named means, means providing aladderstructure mount- -ed in said housing, and means for holding said cover member in closedposition.

2. In combination with abuilding, ahousing having an open side, a cover member hingedly connected to said housing over said open side, elements on said cover 'member, means for 'hingedly connecting said housing to said building, means for urging said housing into a predetermined position relative to .said building,'means for resisting the action 7 'of said last named means, means providing a ladder structure .mounted in said housing, means for normally urging said cover'mem her into open position, and releasable means for restraining the action of said last named f means, said releasable means including ro- I tatable. rods GXLQDdGd. through said housing and the-wall of said building so as to be acments' on said cover member to hold said cover member normally n closedposition.

cessible from the interior of said building, and means on said'rods engaging saidele- 3, In'combination with a building, a housing having an open, side, a cover member hingedly'connected tosald housing over sald j openside, elements on said cover member,

7 her into open position, releasable means for restralnlng' the action of sa d last named means, said releasable means including rotatable rods extended through saidhousing V and thewall of said building so as to be accessiblej from the'interiorj of said building,

a means on said rods engagingsaid elements I onrsald' cover member to hold said cover member normally in closed position, the wall of, said housing opposite said open side, havfor restraining the action of said last named means, said releasable means including ro- J tatable rods extended through said housing and the Wall of said building so asto beaccessible from the interior of said building,

means on said rods engaging said elementsv on sald cover member to hold said cover member normally in closed position, and means on the inner side of said housing for. operating an alarm circuit when saidcover member is moved into open position, said last named means includingarms normally retained in open circuit position by engage; ment of said cover member.

In testimony whereof I aifixmy signature;

' WILLIAM 'j ing openings therein in juxtaposition to said rods,-and'lugs'on said rods engaging said a .wall when said housing is disposed parallel to the Wall of the building,whereby by rotating said rods a predetermined distance said lugs will be aligned with said openings to "permit said housing to be swung away from 7 open side, elements on said cover member, 'means forjhingedly connectlng said housing the 'wall of thebuilding. V

In'combination with a building, a-hous:

ing. having, an open side, a cover member hingedly connected to said housing over said to said building, means for urging said'housing into a predetermined position relative to said building, means for resisting the action of said last named means, means providing a ladder structure mounted in said houslng,

means for normally urging said cover memher into openposition} to permit said ladder structure to be moved into operative position,

said cover member when in closed position retaining said ladder structure in inoperative position, and releasable means for restraining. the'action of said last named means, saidre- ,leasable r'meansincluding rotatable rods ex- -tended through said housing and the wall of I saidbuilding so as to be accessible from the v interior of said building, and means on said rods engaging said elements on said cover l member to hold said cover member normally r 5, In combination with a building, a houslnghaving an open side, a cover member) hmgedly connected to said housing over sald in closed position.

open side, elements on said coverjmember,

"means for hingedly connecting saidhousing to said bu1ld1ng,means for ur ng-saidhousing'into a predetermined positionfrelative V .to' said building,means for resisting'th'e acv \tion of said last named means, means'providing, means for normally urgingsaid cover m ember into-open position, releasable means 1 .ing a ladder structure mounted in said housv fis 

